With the increased popularity of the ukulele there's more and more choice when it comes to buying a ukulele. So if you're looking to get one, where do you start?

How Much Does A Ukulele Cost?

If you're buying a ukulele, you've probably got a good idea of the price you're willing to pay. You can spend pretty much whatever you like on a ukulele. You can pick up a very cheap model for less than $20 or you can pick up a top of the range model or a vintage instrument for over $10,000.

The best place for a beginner to start is probably in the $50 - $100 range. This will give you a good starter ukulele that should be playable and have a reasonably good sound (something that isn't always the case with the very cheapest instruments).

Which Brand Should I Get?

The most popular first time ukulele around at the moment is the Lanikai LU-21. It is very reasonably priced and well constructed. It is even used by professional musicians such as Zach Condon of Beirut.

Where Can I Buy a Ukulele?

There are a few dedicated ukulele shops around (particularly in Hawaii and California). But if you're not lucky enough to have one of those near by, the best place to buy a ukulele is online.

The widest choice of ukuleles online is undoubtedly on eBay. Some people are wary of buying on eBay, but so long as you use a respected seller (check their feedback), you should have no problems at all. Two particularly respected ukulele sellers on eBay are musicguymic and ukulele4u.

If you are desperate not to buy online, Guitar Center and Musician's Friend do have a good selection of ukuleles. You can check out their ranges online. But don't expect any great ukulele advice from the sellers there.

Meet Local Ukulele Players

If you are lucky enough to have a ukulele group nearby, it's definitely worth going along and trying out a few different ukuleles. Most groups are very welcoming to new members and will gladly give you plenty of pointers on what to buy.

Jump In And Buy One

If you're looking to buy a ukulele for the first time, the best thing to do is just jump in and buy a reasonable quality uke. Once you've got the taste for it, you'll have a large collection on the go before you know it.